Representatives from the Pennsylvania Insurance Department testified before the House Insurance Committee on the various duties, roles and responsibilities the Department plays with respect to the Commonwealth’s insurance industry. Deputy commissioners from the Department’s bureaus discussed corporate and financial regulation, solvency and market regulation, Mcare, CHIP and numerous other funds over which the Department has oversight. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story.
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Posted by Mike | Tags: CHIP, insurance, MCare | Category: House Insurance, Public/Informational Committee Hearing | Comments are closed | Share:
The House Insurance Committee conducted an informational meeting with representatives of the Insurance Department and the Insurance Federation on medical professional liability insurance coverage to health providers in Pennsylvania. Members asked questions about the current market and the current liabilities of the MCare Fund. Check the Capitol Toolbox later today for the full story. Posted by Jeff | Tags: MCare, medical liability insurance | Category: House Insurance, Public/Informational Committee Hearing | Comments are closed | Share:
The House Health, Human Services, and Insurance Committees held a joint informational meeting today to receive an update from the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4) on the council’s interactive database giving consumers the Medicare prices for common medical procedures at Pennsylvania facilities. PHC4 representatives demonstrated the database and responded to member questions and concerns. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for more. Posted by Jason | Tags: Health Care, PHC4 | Category: House Health, House Human Services, House Insurance, Public/Informational Committee Hearing | Comments are closed | Share:
The House Insurance Committee this morning met for an educational session to learn about non-profit organizations. Pennsylvania Association of Non-Profit Organizations (PANO) Executive Director Joe Geiger, as well as representatives from Geisinger Health Plan and Health System, provided members details on the differences between for- and not-for-profit entities. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story. Posted by Mike | Tags: Health Care, nonprofits | Category: House Insurance, Public/Informational Committee Hearing | Comments are closed | Share:
The House Insurance Committee met this afternoon and reported two bills without amendment. HB 2535, which adds dieticians and nutritionists to those whose services are reimbursable by Blue Shield was unanimously reported with minimal discussion about the services these professionals provide. HB 2735 was reported with six negative votes. There was considerable discussion regarding future funding for the consumer advocate and the role it would play. Look for the complete story in the Capitol Toolbox later this afternoon. Posted by Kim | Tags: insurance | Category: Committee Voting Meeting, House Insurance | Comments are closed | Share:
This morning the House Insurance Committee held a hearing on HB 2188 and the issue of viatical settlements, also known as life settlements. Viatical settlements allow an individual to sell his or her life insurance policy to a third party for a lump sum payment, and have been regulated in Pennsylvania since 2002. HB 2188, legislation by Rep. Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny), would provide additional regulation to prevent stranger-originated life insurance (STOLI) transactions. A panel consisting of life settlement company Coventry, the Insurance Department and the Insurance Federation of Pennsylvania offered their views on the legislation and viatical settlements in general, offering broad support for greater checks against STOLI products. Check the Committee News section of the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story. Posted by Mike | Tags: insurance, viatical settlements | Category: House Insurance, Public/Informational Committee Hearing | Comments are closed | Share:
This morning, the House Insurance Committee reported out Rep. Barbin’s HB 2573, which creates the Discount Plan Organization Act, based upon the NAIC Model law. A technical amendment was adopted and there was unanimous support. Rep. Shapiro’s legislation to implement the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, HB 2462, was reported as committed by a vote of 23-2. There was productive discussion on the bill, and believing Rep. Shapiro is “open-minded” about it, Chairman Tony DeLuca encouraged members to submit floor amendments and work with him on improving the bill before final passage. Check the Capitol Toolbox later this afternoon for the full story. This morning the House Insurance Committee amended and approved three pieces of legislation, including HB 2106 by Rep. Rick Taylor (D-Montgomery) providing for electronic medical records, and HB 2490 by Rep. Kenyatta Johnson (D-Philadelphia) providing for the voluntary submission of testing data by insurance agent applicants for review by the Insurance Department. Check the Capitol Toolbox later for the full story. Posted by Mike | Tags: electronic medical records, insurance | Category: Committee Voting Meeting, House Insurance | Comments are closed | Share:
Meeting off the floor this afternoon the House Insurance Committee voted unanimously to approved HB 2521, and passed over HB 2522, along with HB 2106. HBs 2521 and 2522 were the subjects of a public hearing earlier in the morning, with the latter bill drawing the ire of the Pennsylvania Medical Society and the Pennsylvania Ambulatory Surgery Association, among other groups. Chairman DeLuca pulled the bill so that the legislation can be reworked with input from the various stakeholders. Check the Committee News section of the Capitol Toolbox later for coverage of the voting meeting as well as the earlier hearing. Posted by Mike | Tags: self-referral | Category: Committee Voting Meeting, House Insurance | Comments are closed | Share:
The House Insurance Committee this morning held a public hearing on HBs 2521 and 2522, bills sponsored by Chairman Tony DeLuca (D-Allegheny). HB 2521 would require referring health care providers to disclose the name and address of the lab providing pathology services, as well as the amount paid for the service. HB 2522 would prohibit a health care provider from making a referral to himself or an immediate family member if the provider has has a financial interest. The bill retains the exemptions contained in federal Stark laws regarding self-referrals. Testimony was offered on both sides of the issue, from parties including the Pennsylvania Medical Society, the Pennsylvania Ambulatory Surgery Association, as well as representatives from private practices, radiologists and labs. Despite a lack of consensus on the bills, they are both scheduled to be considered by the committee at an off the floor voting meeting sometime today. Check the Capitol Toolbox for the full story on the hearing as well as updates on the bills. Posted by Mike | Tags: doctors, Health Care, Hospitals, self-referral | Category: House Insurance, Public/Informational Committee Hearing | Comments are closed | Share:
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